looking for opinions

I am looking for my first bike to own and i have had a few people at my work tell me I would probably need a 600cc so i found one at a local shop and looking for some input fomr everyone who wants to... i asked my wife. as you can tell i can't post pictures but it is a black 2006 Suzuki GSX 600 Katana. I am not sure of the mods on it but whene my post count is higher ill post up a picture. thanks!

Try to stay away from 600's or anything else with 4 cylinders for that matter. Go with 2, a ninja 250, 500, or even a 650. Two cylinders are a lot more forgiving.

okay. what do you mean by forgiving? i have looked at both. I don't really know alot about the egines of motorcycles yet...

what do you mean by forgiving?

A supersport is less forgiving of errors that the new rider is bound to make in the learning process. Bikes such as the 600 GXR are built to be racing machines. The input of the controls such as the throttle and brakes are meant to be used by experienced riders. The motorcycle assumes that the rider knows exactly what they are doing at all times. The bike will snap to attention and do exactly what it's told. Small motions of the throttle or brakes can have bad results if implemented by mistake at the wrong time.

A more forgiving bike will allow you to learn to ride more skillfully, quicker and safer.

It is possible to learn on any bike, even a supersport. Some people do fine, others fail. Most experienced riders will suggest you learn on something tamer for a season or so before taking on a racing bike. You'll find that the majority of skillful, long-term riders (people who have ridden for many years) started out on a more forgiving bike and moved up to larger ones. Odds are you won't be challenged to a world-class racing event while learning how to use the clutch.

Consider your motives and what you really want to accomplish. If you want to become a skilled rider, it will be easier, safer and faster to learn the basics on a forgiving machine. There are a lot of models available that look really cool as well.

is it easier to develop skills on a cruiser or a sports bike?

I'd say it depends on what you want. Sport bikes are lighter so they are easy to handle and easier to not drop at a stop sign lol.

I'd say it depends on what you want. Sport bikes are lighter so they are easy to handle and easier to not drop at a stop sign lol.

i completely understand that lol. i am looking at a ninja 250 and i to be completely honest am like it as well. and like i was told in earlier posts ill move up once my driving ability develops.

plus, you would probably get raped on price for an 06 kanotuna, which isn't a very popular bike and would be harder to sell when you move on.

a 250 or 500 will be easy to sell, close to what you paid for it. which is another reason to get one.

even cool bikes that everyone wants, like cbr's and gsxr's have very fast depreciation in the first 2-4 years of owning them. You pay ~$10K OTD from the dealer, once you get it home, it's probably worth 8k in the open market, at the end of the 2nd year, it's worth mid 6000, at the end of the 4th it's worth about 4-5k. you lose half of your money in 4 years for a vehicle that MAY be ridden 10,000 miles a year. It's pretty brutal.

is it easier to develop skills on a cruiser or a sports bike?

I don't think there is much of a difference when learning. I always found the "standard" configuration to be the most comfortable, but it really comes down to personal taste.

plus, you would probably get raped on price for an 06 kanotuna, which isn't a very popular bike and would be harder to sell when you move on.

a 250 or 500 will be easy to sell, close to what you paid for it. which is another reason to get one.

even cool bikes that everyone wants, like cbr's and gsxr's have very fast depreciation in the first 2-4 years of owning them. You pay ~$10K OTD from the dealer, once you get it home, it's probably worth 8k in the open market, at the end of the 2nd year, it's worth mid 6000, at the end of the 4th it's worth about 4-5k. you lose half of your money in 4 years for a vehicle that MAY be ridden 10,000 miles a year. It's pretty brutal.

lol your the second person i have heard to call it that but i understand about the selling aspect. i would like something i could get rid of quick when the time comes. also my wife would like to have a bike one day and i figured she could have my old one once the time comes ya know.

I don't think there is much of a difference when learning. I always found the "standard" configuration to be the most comfortable, but it really comes down to personal taste.

standard i take it is more like the cruiser style? but i do think the sports bike is more my taste and probably would be easier to sit at a stop light. i like to strech my legs out and i think they would be better.